Even the Land

Leviticus 25: 1-7 The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. 3 For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. 4 But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. 5 Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. 6 Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, 7 as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

Isn't it interesting that God directed the Israelites to give Sabbath to their land as well as to themselves? Every seven years, they were to forego planting and harvesting in order to let the land breathe and rejuvenate.

What an unusual requirement! It's not enough that people rest, the earth needs rest as well. And on a regular basis!

Go back and read today's bible passage again, but slowly. What does it say about God's priorities for his people and their lands that such a sabbath would be required?